# Jason Fried et al. - Rework (Highlights)  ## Metadata **Cover**:: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41tTcBdGo0L._SL200_.jpg **Source**:: #from/readwise **Zettel**:: #zettel/fleeting **Status**:: #x **Authors**:: [[Jason Fried]], [[David Heinemeier Hansson]] **Full Title**:: Rework **Category**:: #books #readwise/books **Category Icon**:: 📚 **Highlighted**:: [[2022-02-26]] **Created**:: [[2022-09-26]] ## Highlights ### FIRST - There’s a new reality. Today anyone can be in business. Tools that used to be out of reach are now easily accessible. ([Location 185](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=185)) ### TAKEDOWNS #### Ignore the real world - The real world isn’t a place, it’s an excuse. It’s a justification for not trying. ([Location 204](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=204)) #### Learning from mistakes is overrated - Failure is not a prerequisite for success. ([Location 216](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=216)) - Success is the experience that actually counts. ([Location 220](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=220)) #### Planning is guessing - Plans let the past drive the future. They put blinders on you. ([Location 228](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=228)) - You have the most information when you’re doing something, not before you’ve done it. ([Location 231](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=231)) - Decide what you’re going to do this week, not this year. Figure out the next most important thing and do that. Make decisions right before you do something, not far in advance. ([Location 236](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=236)) - Working without a plan may seem scary. But blindly following a plan that has no relationship with reality is even scarier. ([Location 238](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=238)) #### Why grow? - Grow slow and see what feels right—premature hiring is the death of many companies. ([Location 250](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=250)) #### Workaholism - If all you do is work, you’re unlikely to have sound judgments. ([Location 271](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=271)) - You stop being able to decide what’s worth extra effort and what’s not. ([Location 271](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=271)) - Workaholics aren’t heroes. They don’t save the day, they just use it up. The real hero is already home because she figured out a faster way to get things done. ([Location 274](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=274)) #### Enough with “entrepreneurs” - Everyone should be encouraged to start his own business, not just some rare breed that self-identifies as entrepreneurs. ([Location 278](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=278)) - Instead of entrepreneurs, let’s just call them starters. ([Location 282](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=282)) ### GO #### Make a dent in the universe - You want to feel that if you stopped doing what you do, people would notice. ([Location 291](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=291)) - If you’re going to do something, do something that matters. ([Location 299](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=299)) #### Scratch your own itch - The easiest, most straightforward way to create a great product or service is to make something you want to use. ([Location 302](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=302)) #### Start making something - What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan. ([Location 331](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=331)) - Think your idea’s that valuable? Then go try to sell it and see what you get for it. ([Location 332](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=332)) #### No time is no excuse - There’s always enough time if you spend it right. ([Location 342](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=342)) #### Draw a line in the sand - If no one’s upset by what you’re saying, you’re probably not pushing hard enough. (And you’re probably boring, too.) ([Location 358](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=358)) #management #favorite - When you don’t know what you believe, everything becomes an argument. Everything is debatable. But when you stand for something, decisions are obvious. ([Location 364](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=364)) #### Mission statement impossible - Standing for something isn’t just about writing it down. It’s about believing it and living it. ([Location 393](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=393)) #### Outside money is Plan Z - In fact, no matter what kind of business you’re starting, take on as little outside cash as you can. ([Location 400](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=400)) #### You need less than you think #### Start a business, not a startup - Anyone who takes a “we’ll figure out how to profit in the future” attitude to business is being ridiculous. ([Location 441](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=441)) #### Building to flip is building to flop - You need a commitment strategy, not an exit strategy. You should be thinking about how to make your project grow and succeed, not how you’re going to jump ship. ([Location 453](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=453)) - when you build a company with the intention of being acquired, you emphasize the wrong things. ([Location 457](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=457)) - If you do manage to get a good thing going, keep it going. Good things don’t come around that often. ([Location 463](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=463)) #### Less mass - And the more massive an object, the more energy required to change its direction. It’s as true in the business world as it is in the physical world. ([Location 467](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=467)) ### PROGRESS #### Embrace constraints - Limited resources force you to make do with what you’ve got. There’s no room for waste. And that forces you to be creative. ([Location 494](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=494)) #### Build half a product, not a half-assed product - Cut your ambition in half. You’re better off with a kick-ass half than a half-assed whole. ([Location 515](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=515)) #### Start at the epicenter - The stuff you have to do is where you should begin. Start at the epicenter. ([Location 523](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=523)) #### Ignore the details early on #### Making the call is making progress - Commit to making decisions. Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Decide and move forward. ([Location 549](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=549)) #### Be a curator - What makes a museum great is the stuff that’s not on the walls. ([Location 564](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=564)) - It’s the stuff you leave out that matters. So constantly look for things to remove, simplify, and streamline. Be a curator. Stick to what’s truly essential. Pare things down until you’re left with only the most important stuff. Then do it again. You can always add stuff back in later if you need to. ([Location 567](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=567)) #### Throw less at the problem - When things aren’t working, the natural inclination is to throw more at the problem. ... The right way to go is the opposite direction: Cut back. ([Location 582](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=582)) #### Focus on what won’t change - The core of your business should be built around things that won’t change. Things that people are going to want today and ten years from now. Those are the things you should invest in. ([Location 593](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=593)) #### Tone is in your fingers - Fancy gear can help, but the truth is your tone comes from you. ([Location 606](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=606)) #### Sell your by-products #### Launch now - doing them later may mean doing them better, too. ([Location 641](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=641)) - When you impose a deadline, you gain clarity. ([Location 643](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=643)) ### PRODUCTIVITY #### Illusions of agreement - Do everything you can to remove layers of abstraction. ([Location 670](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=670)) - The problem with abstractions (like reports and documents) is that they create illusions of agreement. A hundred people can read the same words, but in their heads, they’re imagining a hundred different things. ([Location 671](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=671)) - Get the chisel out and start making something real. Anything else is just a distraction. ([Location 682](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=682)) #### Reasons to quit ##### Here are some important questions to ask yourself to ensure you’re doing work that matters: - Why are you doing this? ([Location 686](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=686)) - What problem are you solving? ([Location 689](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=689)) - Is this actually useful? ([Location 692](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=692)) - Are you adding value? ([Location 694](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=694)) - Will this change behavior? ([Location 697](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=697)) - Is there an easier way? ([Location 698](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=698)) - What could you be doing instead? ([Location 701](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=701)) - Is it really worth it? ([Location 704](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=704)) - Sometimes abandoning what you’re working on is the right move, even if you’ve already put in a lot of effort. Don’t throw good time after bad work. ([Location 709](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=709)) #### Interruption is the enemy of productivity #### Meetings are toxic - They require thorough preparation that most people don’t have time for. ([Location 738](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=738)) They (meetings) #### Good enough is fine - Find a judo solution, one that delivers maximum efficiency with minimum effort. ([Location 758](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=758)) - Problems can usually be solved with simple, mundane solutions. That means there’s no glamorous work. You don’t get to show off your amazing skills. You just build something that gets the job done and then move on. ([Location 762](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=762)) #### Quick wins - The way you build momentum is by getting something done and then moving on to the next thing. ([Location 773](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=773)) - If you absolutely have to work on long-term projects, try to dedicate one day a week (or every two weeks) to small victories that generate enthusiasm. ([Location 779](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=779)) #### Don’t be a hero - So we decided that if anything takes one of us longer than two weeks, we’ve got to bring other people in to take a look. ([Location 792](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=792)) - If you already spent too much time on something that wasn’t worth it, walk away. ([Location 796](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=796)) #### Go to sleep #### Your estimates suck - We see everything going according to a best-case scenario, without the delays that inevitably pop up. Reality never sticks to best-case scenarios. ([Location 815](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=815)) - The solution: Break the big thing into smaller things. ([Location 826](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=826)) #### Long lists don’t get done - Instead, prioritize visually. Put the most important thing at the top. When you’re done with that, the next thing on the list becomes the next most important thing. ([Location 845](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=845)) #### Make tiny decisions - Making tiny decisions doesn’t mean you can’t make big plans or think big ideas. It just means you believe the best way to achieve those big things is one tiny decision at a time. ([Location 854](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=854)) ### COMPETITORS #### Don’t copy #### Decommoditize your product #### Pick a fight - Having an enemy gives you a great story to tell customers, too. Taking a stand always stands out. ([Location 914](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=914)) #### Underdo your competition - Do less than your competitors to beat them. Solve the simple problems and leave the hairy, difficult, nasty problems to the competition. Instead of one-upping, try one-downing. Instead of outdoing, try underdoing. ([Location 922](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=922)) #### Who cares what they’re doing? - Every little move becomes something to be analyzed. And that’s a terrible mind-set. It leads to overwhelming stress and anxiety. ([Location 940](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=940)) ### EVOLUTION #### Say no by default - Making a few vocal customers happy isn’t worth it if it ruins the product for everyone else. ([Location 970](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=970)) - Don’t be a jerk about saying no, though. Just be honest. If you’re not willing to yield to a customer request, be polite and explain why. ([Location 975](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=975)) - If not, recommend a competitor if you think there’s a better solution out there. It’s better to have people be happy using someone else’s product than disgruntled using yours. ([Location 977](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=977)) #### Let your customers outgrow you #### Don’t confuse enthusiasm with priority - The enthusiasm you have for a new idea is not an accurate indicator of its true worth. ([Location 1000](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1000)) - let your latest grand ideas cool off for a while first. ([Location 1005](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1005)) #### Be at-home good #### Don’t write it down - The requests that really matter are the ones you’ll hear over and over. ([Location 1025](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1025)) ### PROMOTION #### Welcome obscurity #### Build an audience #### Out-teach your competition - Earning their loyalty by teaching them forms a whole different connection. They’ll trust you more. They’ll respect you more. Even if they don’t use your product, they can still be your fans. ([Location 1071](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1071)) #### Emulate chefs #### Go behind the scenes #### Nobody likes plastic flowers - Don’t be afraid to show your flaws. Imperfections are real and people respond to real. ([Location 1104](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1104)) #### Press releases are spam - If you want to get someone’s attention, it’s silly to do exactly the same thing as everyone else. You need to stand out. ([Location 1123](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1123)) #### Drug dealers get it right - Drug dealers are astute businesspeople. They know their product is so good they’re willing to give a little away for free upfront. ([Location 1144](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1144)) #### Marketing is not a department #### The myth of the overnight sensation ### HIRING #### Do it yourself first - Never hire anyone to do a job until you’ve tried to do it yourself first. ([Location 1183](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1183)) #### Hire when it hurts - Don’t hire for pleasure; hire to kill pain. ([Location 1196](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1196)) #### Pass on great people - Pass on hiring people you don’t need, even if you think that person’s a great catch. ([Location 1205](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1205)) #### Strangers at a cocktail party - You need an environment where everyone feels safe enough to be honest when things get tough. ([Location 1220](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1220)) - So hire slowly. It’s the only way to avoid winding up at a cocktail party of strangers. ([Location 1221](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1221)) #### Resumés are ridiculous #### Years of irrelevance - There’s surprisingly little difference between a candidate with six months of experience and one with six years. ([Location 1242](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1242)) #### Forget about formal education #### Everybody works - That means you need to avoid hiring delegators, those people who love telling others what to do. ([Location 1266](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1266)) #### Hire managers of one - Managers of one are people who come up with their own goals and execute them. They don’t need heavy direction. They don’t need daily check-ins. They do what a manager would do—set the tone, assign items, determine what needs to get done, etc.—but they do it by themselves and for themselves. ([Location 1272](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1272)) #### Hire great writers #### The best are everywhere #### Test-drive employees ### DAMAGE CONTROL ### CULTURE #### You don’t create a culture - You don’t create a culture. It happens. ([Location 1416](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1416)) - Culture is the byproduct of consistent behavior. If you encourage people to share, then sharing will be built into your culture. If you reward trust, then trust will be built in. ([Location 1417](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1417)) - Culture is action, not words. ([Location 1420](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1420)) #### Decisions are temporary - Don’t make up problems you don’t have yet. It’s not a problem until it’s a real problem. ([Location 1425](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1425)) #### Skip the rock stars - Great environments show respect for the people who do the work and how they do it. ([Location 1444](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1444)) #### They’re not thirteen - When you treat people like children, you get children’s work. ([Location 1446](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1446)) - When everything constantly needs approval, you create a culture of nonthinkers. ([Location 1449](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1449)) #### Send people home at 5 #### Don’t scar on the first cut - So don’t scar on the first cut. Don’t create a policy because one person did something wrong once. Policies are only meant for situations that come up over and over again. ([Location 1473](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=1473)) #### Sound like you #### Four-letter words #### ASAP is poison <!-- New highlights added March 16, 2024 at 11:37 AM --> - Starting a business on the side while keeping your day job can provide all the cash flow you need. ([Location 188](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=188)) ^691603358 - Contrast that with learning from your successes. Success gives you real ammunition. When something succeeds, you know what worked—and you can do it again. And the next time, you’ll probably do it even better. ([Location 214](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=214)) ^691603359 - The most important thing is to begin. So get a camera, hit Record, and start shooting. ([Location 336](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=336)) ^692014032 <!-- New highlights added March 21, 2024 at 9:07 AM --> - Startups try to ignore this reality. They are run by people trying to postpone the inevitable, i.e., that moment when their business has to grow up, turn a profit, and be a real, sustainable business. ([Location 440](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B002MUAJ2A&location=440)) ^695674961